TM Tools - S Curve

Definition
• a display of cumulative costs, labour hours or
other quantities plotted against time. The
name derives from the S-like shape of the
curve, flatter at the beginning and end and
steeper in the middle, which is typical of most
projects.
• The beginning represents a slow, deliberate
but accelerating start, while the end
represents a deceleration as the work runs out
Types of S Curves
• The Baseline S Curve. This S Curve is generated from the
Baseline Schedule and / or baseline fields in the
Production Schedule.
• The Target S Curve. This S Curve is generated from the
Production Schedule, assuming all tasks are completed as
scheduled.
• The Actual S Curve. This S curve is also generated from the
Production Schedule, using task percentage complete
values to date. The Actual S Curve may also be referred to
as the Progress or Progress To Date S Curve.
 S-Curve Quantities
• Man Hours
• Costs

S Curve Quantity Units

• Absolute Values for man hours and / or costs
• Percentage Values for man hours and / or costs
 The Baseline S Curve
Prior to project commencement, a schedule is prepared outlining
the proposed allocation of resources and the timing of tasks
necessary to complete the project within a set time frame and
budget. This schedule is referred to as the Baseline Schedule.
The Target S Curve
• The Target S Curve reflects the progress of the project if all tasks are
completed as scheduled. In an ideal world, the Target S Curve will
meet the Baseline S Curve at the end of the project (On Time, On
Budget) or finish below and to the left of the Baseline S Curve
(Finished Early, Under Budget).
• In reality, it is not uncommon for the Target S‑curves
to finish above and to the right of the Baseline
S‑curves (Finished Late, Over Budget). The Target
S‑curves will usually change over the duration of the
Project due to changes to Task Start Dates and Finish
Dates, Man Hours, and/or Cost.
The Target S Curve
What Is The Cut Off Date?
• The Cut Off Date is the date on which the tasks were
physically inspected to determine their percentage
complete values.
Example of Actual S Curves
Using Different Cut Off
Dates
 The Man Hours versus Time S
Curve
 The Costs versus Time S Curve
• The Costs versus Time S Curve is shows cumulative
costs expended over time for the duration of the
project, and may be used to assist in the calculation of
the project's cash flow, and cost to complete.
 Value and Percentage S Curves
• S Curves may be graphed as absolute values (i.e. Man Hours
or Costs) versus Time, or as percentage values versus Time.
 Value S Curves
 Value S Curves are useful for determining the
project’s man hours or costs expended to date, and
man hours or costs to complete.
 Man Hours versus
Time S‑curves
 Analysis of the above S-curves
reveals the Project as of the 4th
of February 2016:
 Is 10.5 Man Hours behind
schedule (48.5 – 38.0)
 Has grown in scope by 5.0 Man
Hours (95.0 – 90.0)
 Has increased in Duration by 1
Day
 Started 1 Day late
 Will finish 2 Days late
 Will require 57.0 Man Hours to
complete (95.0 – 38.0)
 Percentage Man Hours versus
Time (Baseline = 100%) S
Curves
 By setting the Baseline
S-curve to finish at
100%, the Project's
percentage growth (or
contraction) may be
compared to the Baseline
Schedule, and the
Baseline % Complete as
of the Cut Off Date may
be determined.
 Analysis of the given
S‑curves reveals the
Project as of the 3rd of
May 2012:
 Has grown in scope by
5.56% (105.56 – 100.00)
 Was planned to be
Percentage Man Hours versus
Time (Target = 100%) S
Curves
 Why Use an S
Curve?
S Curves allows project managers to quickly
identify:
• Project Progress
• Project Growth or Contraction (Man Hours
and / or Costs, Duration)
• Project Start and / or Finish Slippage
Calculating Project
Growth using S-curves

Comparison of the Baseline and Target S-curves quickly reveals if the

project has grown (Target S-curve finishes above Baseline S-curve)
or contracted (Target S-curve finishes below Baseline S-curve) in
scope. A change in the project's scopes implies a re-allocation of
resources (increase or decrease), and the very possible requirement
to raise contract variations. If the resources are fixed, then the
duration of the project will increase (finish later) or decrease (finish
earlier), possibly leading to the need to submit an extension of time
claim.
 Slippage
• Slippage is defined as "the amount of time a
task has been delayed from its original
baseline schedule. The slippage is the
difference between the scheduled start or
finish date for a task and the baseline start or
finish date. Slippage can occur when a
baseline plan is set and the actual dates
subsequently entered for tasks are later than
the baseline dates or the actual durations are
longer than the baseline schedule
durations".
Calculating Project
Start / Finish
Slippage
 S Curve Analysis
• The progress of the project is behind target . The
Actual S Curve sits below the Target S Curve at the Cut Off
Date.
• The project has grown in man hours. The Target S
Curve finishes above the Baseline S Curve.
• The project has grown in duration. The Target S
Curve duration is longer than the Baseline S Curve
duration.
• The project has experienced start slippage, and thus
started later than planned . The Target S Curve starts to the
right of the Baseline S Curve.
• The project has experienced finish slippage, and thus
will finish later than planned. The Target S Curve
finishes to the right of the Baseline S Curve
Project Progress
Actual % Complete =
Actual YTD Man Hours @ Cut Off Date / Target Man
Hours x 100%
= 38.0 / 95.0 x 100%
= 40.00%

Target % Complete =
Target YTD Man Hours @ Cut Off Date / Target Man
Hours x 100%
= 48.5 / 95.0 x 100%
= 51.05%
 Project Growth (Man Hours)
• Analysis of the Baseline and Target S Curve
data at project completion reveals the project
has grown in scope by 5.0 man hours, or
5.56% as compared to the Baseline Schedule.

Project Growth (Man Hours) = Total Target Man Hours – Total Baseline Man Hours
= 95.0 – 90.0
= 5.0
Project % Growth (Man Hours) = ((Target Man Hours / Baseline Man Hours) - 1) x 100%

= ((95.0 / 90.0) - 1) x 100%

= 5.56%
Project Growth (Duration)
Analysis of the Baseline and Target S Curve data reveals the
project has experience a growth in duration of 1 day, or
20.00% as compared to the Baseline Schedule.

Project Growth (Duration) = Target Duration -

Baseline Duration
= 6 days – 5 days
= 1 day
Project % Growth (Duration) = ((Target Duration /
Baseline Duration) - 1) x 100%
= ((6 days / 5 days) - 1) x 100%
= 20.00%
 Project Start Slippage
Analysis of the Baseline and Target S Curve data reveals the
project has a start slippage of 1 day, or 20.00% as compared
to the Baseline Schedule.

Start Slippage = Target Start Date – Baseline

=Start Date1st May 2012 – 30th April 2012
=1 day

Start Slippage % = Start Slippage / Baseline Duration x 100%

=1 day / 5 days x 100%
=20.00%
 Project Finish Slippage
Analysis of the Baseline and Target S Curve data reveals the
project has a finish slippage of 2 days, or 40.00% as
compared to the Baseline Schedule.

Finish Slippage = Target Finish Date - Baseline Finish Date

= 6th May 2012 – 4th May 2012
= 2 days

Finish Slippage % = Finish Slippage / Baseline Duration x

100%
= 2 days / 5 days x 100%
= 40.00%